The Maze (1953 Allied Artists Pictures Full Film)

Do you ever get the urge to walk up to a camera and start monologuing to a make believe audience about a terrifying event that happened in your life? No? You should start! But before you do you need a few lessons and we’re going to give them to you for low low price of…absolutely nothing! Instead, we’re putting you in front of The Maze and soon you’ll be speaking your inner monologue like a pro!

The Maze is a 1953 film, produced during the age of 3-D. Everything was 3-D. Everywhere you went you pretty much had to wear those stupid glasses. Oh how I miss those days…

Being a 3-D film (not shown here) the movie is more atmospheric than anything really else. It stars Richard Carlson and Hillary Brooke. It was directed by William Cameron Menzies and Allied Artists Pictures distributed the film. The Maze is the second 3-D film by Menzies who had a reputation for having a very “dimensional” style. Many of his shots are done in multiple layers for an unsettling effect. It would be his final film as a director.

Gerald MacTam (Richard Carlson) suddenly and mysteriously breaks off an engagement to Kitty (Veronica Hurst) after she received a letter in the mail. Gerald had inherited a large estate and castle out in Scotland and moves there to enjoy his new found wealth. Kitty, agitated and perturbed by the sudden break up grabs her aunt (Katherine Emery) and hightails it too Scotland to chase after Gerald. She of course says it’s for love but c’mon. It’s a freaking castle! We really know why she’s chasing him. *wink wink*

However, after they arrive immediately things have changed for the worse. Gerald has actually aged 20 years! From here the movie picks up pace where a mysterious series of events happen in the hedge maze (ah so there is a maze). The atmosphere gradually becomes darker and more sinister. However, try to ignore the obviously pained windows on the sets and the rubber bats on strings…nothing to see there. >.>

Regardless of cheap sets, bad camera angles, and the very strange monologuing it’s well worth the build up for the end. Not because the movie is finally over, though that’s a plus, but you’ll say to yourself “Wow…didn’t see that coming!”

It’s an average movie but it was a stepping stone of an era of horror movies that we enjoy today. So trim the hedges, draw a map, and ignore those windows. It’s not really there…I promise.

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